Failure of Reintegration

Democratic Party and Party of Hope failed in establishing new integrated parliamentary group in both Houses of the Diet. While both parties tried to make the biggest opposite group, overtaking Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, they could not uphold common fundamental policy, namely over constitutional amendment. The opposite parties keep torn apart, being uncompetitive against unilateral power of leading Shinzo Abe administration.

Under the leadership of former President Seiji Maehara, Democratic Party decided last fall to be integrated with Party of Hope, led by Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike. Trying to unify the party with common policies, Party of Hope kept their stance that they would support a part of constitutional amendment policy of Liberal Democratic Party, the decision which included not caring about unconstitutional decision of Abe administration to redefining of collective self-defense force. One of the leaders of Party of Hope Goshi Hosono proposed excluding old lawmakers who had experienced Prime Minister or party leader.

Opposing that exclusive attitude of Party of Hope, a number of lawmakers in Democratic Party defied the integration policy and established CDPJ. In short, former biggest opposite party DP was separated into three small fragments. They individually made their own campaign in the election of House of Representatives last October. In the backdrop of sweeping victory of LDP, the opposite parties sank in disintegrated campaigns and CDPJ became the leader of opposite powers in terms of the number of seat in the House.

Losing most lawmakers in House of Representatives, DP basically wanted to reunion former members. As the first step for the reintegration, DP proposed establishing new parliamentary group with Party of Hope in both Houses. However, some members of Party of Hope rejected lawmakers who firmly opposed constitutional amendment. There also remained former party leaders in DP who disliked Hosono remaining in Party of Hope. Both parties had to abandon their reintegration plan.

CDPJ is basically reluctant to any reintegration without consensus on basic policies. President Yukio Edano once rejected the proposal of making parliamentary group last year. After the failure of DP and Party of Hope, CDPJ reconsiders establishing parliamentary group with DP. For DP, it is necessary to accept basic CDPJ against constitutional amendment with Abe administration. Reintegration movement of the opposite parties depends on whether they can make anti-amendment power.